Parade Picks

More by
Parade

Games All-Star DadsNew video games let Dad star in the sport of his choice from the comfort of his couch. Prices range from $30 to $60.

• Major League Baseball 2K9 offers a realistic MLB experience on game consoles and home computers. The versions for Xbox360 and Nintendo Wii include a tool to make highlight reels of Dad’s best plays.

•For racing fans, consider ExciteBots: Trick Racing on Wii, packaged with a “Wii wheel” for an authentic driving experience. No console? No problem. Any home computer can handle Burnout Paradise. Players crash through courses in more than 70 tricked-out vehicles. You can even challenge Dad to a race online.

•A subscription to gamefly.com ($16/mo.) provides access to more than 6000 games. When you’re finished with one, pop it in the mail and get another title.

Music The Boys Are Back in TownLet Dad relive his youth with an earful of remastered timeless classics. Summer Love Songs by The Beach Boys includes 19 fan favorites such as “Don’t Worry Baby” and “California Girls,” as well as a previously unreleased Dennis Wilson track, “Fallin’ in Love.” Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison keeps things upbeat with hits including “Got My Mind Set on You” and “My Sweet Lord,” plus live recordings of Beatles songs such as “Something.” Or, for the truly rockin’ pop, try recently rereleased Rolling Stones albums: Sticky Fingers, It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Black and Blue.

Photo No-Hassle PicturesIf Dad loves taking photos but hates waiting for them to upload to his computer, the Eye-Fi Share card may be the perfect gift. He’ll need a computer with a wireless connection, a camera, and the card: After a quick setup online, Eye-Fi pops into the camera—r eplacing the normal memory card—and wirelessly uploads new photos to Dad’s desktop or choice of photo-sharing sites like Picasa, Flickr, Snapfish, and Shutterfly, where he can order prints or e-mail them to you. Cooking Tasteful TomesIf your father wears the apron in the family, he’ll eat up these cookbooks: Emeril at the Grill by Emeril Lagasse elevates BBQ fare with easy-but-elegant recipes for balsamic- marinated rib-eyes, grilled smashed potatoes, and even a char-broiled, chocolate-stuffed apple. Ardie A. Davis and Chef Paul Kirk’s America’s Best BBQ highlights smokehouses around the country and their signature ‘ cue recipes. And Danny Meyer’s Mix Shake Stir: Cocktails for the Home Bar teaches how to serve up sassy restoratives. Sports For a Dad Who Likes To WinNeed a little help coaching your kid’s team? Tuck the CoachDeck color-coded 52-card pack in your pocket for instant illustrated coaching drills for soccer, basketball, or baseball (see Coachdeck.com for details). Boxing lovers will enjoy the DVD Thrilla in Manilla, an intense look back at the legendary 1975 World Heavyweight battle between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali in the Philippines. Race-car fans will love The Ride of Their Lives, a fast-paced history of NASCAR. Narrated by Kevin Costner, the DVD features many of the sport’s biggest stars, including Dale Earnhardt Jr.